The arrival of a baby is the perfect time to start preserving your memories, if you haven’t already. There’s nothing quite like having a little one to make you realize how quickly time flies—and how much you want to remember each precious moment forever!

In celebration of this momentous milestone, we recently attended a fun crafting night with Lynn Muir @pocketfulofpaint and a few local mommas and mommas-to-be at The Baby Cubby in American Fork, Utah! We provided each of our guests with their very own The Story Begins Cut Above® layout kit to help each of them to start preserving memories of their little ones in a beautiful baby album.

These Cut Above® layout kits are an excellent solution for mothers of small children who feel that strong, sometimes pressing, desire to memory keep, but who have a hard time finding the time to do it (and do it right). They are ideal for those who are new to memory keeping as well as anyone who is simply looking for a quicker alternative.

Available for baby boy and baby girl, each of the Story Begins layout kits comes with materials to make 10 coordinating two-page scrapbook layouts, including instructions and even journaling prompts. All of the paper is pre-cut and ready to assemble into a keepsake album—that means no measuring or cutting! All you need to bring to the table with your kit are your pictures, adhesive, a journaling pen, and the memories you love.

And our busy mommy friends loved that!

These fun ladies had a blast socializing while putting together their new beautiful albums that came together with ease!

We’re so grateful to our friends at The Baby Cubby and @pocketfulofpaint for their help in bringing the important message of memory keeping to the lovely moms who joined us. If memory keeping is a priority to you that you haven’t managed to get around to yet, give our Cut Above layout kits a try and see for yourself how easy and satisfying it can be to start telling your stories.

There is no single word that describes the Close To My Heart community better than “blessing.” During this month of gratitude and Thanksgiving, I want to share why this community has been such a blessing for both myself and my family.

Close To My Heart—her Consultants, her Home Office team and Executive Team, and above all, Jeanette, have become a family to me. They have not only helped me discover who I am but also have helped me define the type of woman that I aspire to be. They have continually supported my dreams and fostered my growth as an individual, mother, leader, artist, and businesswoman.

This family is composed of a community of many: my personal Team, my larger Team, my fellow Consultants across the country and around the world, and our Home Office teams. They have provided a support system that is like no other—a community that has seen each other through tears of sadness, trials and tribulations, losses, sicknesses, triumphs and celebrations, and complete joy. I have found strength within these relationships and have witnessed bonds like nothing else I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing or being a part of. These relationships are indeed priceless. They are genuine. They are real.

Within this community and on this journey that we call life, I find hope, respect, empowerment, unity, and togetherness. I find individuals building each other up. I find inspiration, faith, and celebration. We share a passion for preserving our memories and these relationships. I truly believe that these passions are what enable these unique relationships to grow. Along my 9-year Close To My Heart journey, I have been taken under the wings of great Consultants and encouraged to fly. I find myself now taking my own Team, and others who are now where I once was, under my wings. Their goals have become my goals to help them achieve. I want to walk with them as they make their dreams—with both Close To My Heart and in their personal lives—come true. All the while, Close To My Heart will help them grow and let their inner beauty shine.

I am continually touched by the caring, selflessness, and giving nature that is a trademark of the Close To My Heart family. I have witnessed first-hand Consultants rally to help families recreate their families’ memories when they lost their homes to floods, help fellow Consultants earn incentive trips, make cards for troops overseas and at home, and hold creative fundraisers for our amazing charity partner Operation Smile™ and so many other personal causes. This selfless nature speaks volumes to the character of the Consultants and their company.

One of the things I love the most about our community is that even though I am the Consultant, my own family is treasured and valued as well. My children are asked about with genuine interest, not just as a formality. Little details are remembered by the Executive Team and other Consultants, which I find truly endearing.

To illustrate, my most cherished Close To My Heart memory is shared with my daughter, Abigail. She is now eight and has grown up with CTMH. She can do the “twist-twist-tap-tap-tap stamp dance” in her sleep, and with sass! She can name most of the colors in our palette, knows many of our products inside and out, and could probably teach my classes better than I could. She loves Close To My Heart and tries to be a part of it. Last year, Close To My Heart did a special promotion in which copies of Sticky Boy were sent out randomly with orders. Abigail wanted me to have one so badly! She stalked my orders looking for a Sticky Boy, helped me post to his Facebook page that she would give him a good home, and more. The campaign ended, no Sticky Boy had arrived at the Sheridan household with my orders, and Abigail was in tears. The following week, a package arrived addressed to Abby. Tucked inside was a handmade card and a stowed-away Sticky Boy. Never have I seen such delight and pride in her eyes! That is the magic of Close To My Heart—a magic that is incomparable! One individual taking note and blessing another. Astounding.

The Close To My Heart community is truly a blessing. Within Close To My Heart, I have found the place where I belong.

Thank you, Tonya, for the beautiful blog post. We’re so glad that you’re part of our Close To My Heart family!

A few months ago, Tonya sent in some beautiful artwork for Monica and Jeanette that we just had to share. First, this beautiful Designed Décor chalkboard, which features an array of messages that embody Close To My Heart’s mission:

Tonya also sent both Monica and Jeanette amazing cards inspired by a page we created at Convention this year:

Didn’t she do a wonderful job of turning a scrapbook page into a card? Tonya, we’re so lucky to have you. Thank you to all Consultants and customers who help make our Close To My Heart family fabulous. We love you all!

Who first introduced you to Close To My Heart?
About 24 years ago, my neighbor invited me to a Close To My Heart party and I fell in love! I loved the designs, the concept—I loved it all!Why did you decide to become a Consultant?I wanted it all! I had joined other companies to get the product at a discount, and that was my original intention with Close To My Heart, but something was different this time. Close To My Heart was not like other companies. It was fun and exciting, so I joined and never looked back or regretted it for one minute.What are the perks of being a Close To My Heart Consultant?There are so many perks! Product discounts, friendships, sisterhood, customers, my Team, and relationships with the corporate team, who are the people that run the best company ever.What’s your favorite memory from Convention?I have attended every Convention since I signed up (except the first one, which was only weeks after I signed up). I would never miss one! I jokingly told my children to plan babies and such around Convention because I didn’t want to miss one. My favorite memory is the year I was surprised beyond words when I was given the Spirit of Close To My Heart award. My husband and daughter were flown out to surprise me, and a fun video had been made about my family and years with Close To My Heart. What an honor! THAT was my favorite memory from Convention.What’s the best part about going on an incentive trip?We have earned 15 incentive trips! They are fabulous. The best part of these trips is spending time with my best friend, my husband. We have been to places we would NEVER have been able to go otherwise. These incentive trips are so fun because we travel with the great leaders from Close To My Heart, along with the other earners and their families. We have had such great times with our Close To My Heart friends on these trips!Which product is your favorite?I could not even begin to name a favorite product. I use Close To My Heart products exclusively because I love the paper, the embellishments, the stamps, Studio J®, the albums—I just love it all!

Why do you love the Close To My Heart community?Being part of the Close To My Heart community is fabulous. I have made so many friends over the years. The people at Close To My Heart are by far the most genuine people I have ever met. My customers, my Team, and other Consultants have become my dearest friends. I treasure being part of the Close To My Heart community. Through sad times and happy times, Consultants are always there for each other.How have you changed through your involvement with Close To My Heart?I was never very outgoing before joining Close To My Heart. But being a Close To My Heart Consultant has helped me learn to talk to people and share what I love. I had always wanted to add a little income to our family budget, but also wanted to be a “stay-at-home mom.” This fabulous business helped me do just that. Over the years, I have learned how to streamline my business, and still be a mom and grandma right along side of it!What would you tell someone about Close To My Heart if you could only say one thing?JOIN US!!! You will never regret it! This company is by far the best company out there in so many ways. Everything they do is done with the Consultants in mind. They have the best products and a generous commission plan. You will LOVE being part of this company!Any last thoughts?My family has truly been blessed by being part of the Close To My Heart family! I LOVE Close To My Heart!

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Welcome to 2015! At Close To My Heart, we have some exciting things in the works for the upcoming year. Just as I do at the beginning of every year, I’ve set some new goals for myself and for our company. One goal I have for all of us is to find joy in creativity. As with any ongoing resolution, we all need a little extra motivation from time to time. So today I’m happy to announce Jeanette’s Creative Challenge! You’re invited to play along with me this year as we present weekly challenges to get your creative juices flowing.

Here’s how it’s going to go:

Tune in to our Facebook and Instagram pages each Monday to learn what Jeanette’s Creative Challenge will be. Follow Close To My Heart on Facebook and Instagram so you can get the details pronto! When I announce the challenge, you’ll see a sample project as your inspiration and it will then be up to you to create and share your own creations.

You have until the following Sunday at midnight to post a photo of your own interpretation of the challenge to either our Facebook page or your own Instagram feed. Be sure to use the hashtag #jrlcreativechallenge when you post. You can search this hashtag at any time to see what others have posted!

What’s in it for you? This series is designed to inspire creative time and provide a place for unity and idea sharing each week. The challenge will give you a reason to get into your supplies on a regular basis for the sole purpose of having fun through crafting!

Oh, and did I mention there will be prizes? We’ll choose one random winner each week to receive a prize for participating. I’ll announce the previous week’s winners every Monday on Facebook and Instagram, just before the new challenge announcement.

Spread the word about this opportunity to anyone and everyone you know who loves creating, winning prizes, and a good challenge! The more people that get involved, the more fun it will be.

Sounds like a blast, right? Get those scissors sharpened for Monday, January 12, when I’ll post our first Weekly Creative Challenge!

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Jeanette Lynton

Meet Jeanette Lynton—wife, mother, artist, and Founder & CEO of one of the world’s leading companies in the papercrafting industry. This blog is dedicated to all who share her love of creativity. Visit often, share your stories, and become family!

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